https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperborea
Hyperboreans
Jackie Oates Lyrics
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The deeper we will have to breathe the air just to outlive it.
The more the sun shines in the door before the month of fevers,
The more comes snow and so we know Cruel Boreas deceives us.
And if at twelve o'clock I walk a shadow's length behind you,
The deeper I will have to dig the driven snow to find you.
Alas, alas, Cruel Boreas, you chill our very marrow;
When Boreas again begins to blow a little harder,
We'll go to our unwed bed therein to make our ardour.
When Boreas at last relents the sun again is shining,
Let the rhythm guide the sense and the sense misguide the rhyming.
Now we're the Hyperboreans -- we dwell beyond the tundra;
That's the name we glory in and the name we labour under.
If you would glory in a thing, it may as well be labour.
That's ever been the reasoning and governs our behaviour,
The only way to overbrim with love for every neighbour.
The opening lyrics of Jackie Oates's song Hyperboreans describe the changing seasons as a metaphor for the passing of time. The hinges of the year are rusted, signifying that time is old and slow, and we must work harder to keep up with it. The air is colder and harder to breathe, which suggests that time is thick and difficult. The reference to the month of fevers indicates that time can be unpredictable, shifting between extremes, such as hot and cold weather. The more the sun shines, the more snow will fall, which suggests that the passage of time involves unexpected twists and turns. The repetition of the phrase "Cruel Boreas deceives us" reinforces this idea, as it implies that time is deceptive and often harsh.
The second verse of the song adds a sense of melancholy and loss, as the singer laments the passing of time and the difficulty of finding love in such a harsh environment. The reference to the shadow's length suggests distance and separation, and the need to dig through the driven snow to find love symbolizes the effort required to make a connection. The reference to Cruel Boreas chilling our marrow adds to the sense of coldness and isolation, and the need to strew the pillow with rue and yarrow suggests a desperate plea for comfort.
The final verse of the song offers a more positive outlook, as the Hyperboreans are described as a community that values labor and unity. The name they glory in suggests that they celebrate their differences and unique qualities, and the notion that they labor under this name implies that they recognize and embrace their struggles. The final line reinforces this theme, suggesting that the only way to love others is to work hard and be intentional about our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the hinges of the year have rust on every rivet;
Now that time has passed, the year and everything in it has begun to decay and fall apart.
The deeper we will have to breathe the air just to outlive it.
We must struggle even harder to survive as things continue to deteriorate.
The more the sun shines in the door before the month of fevers,
As winter begins to turn into spring, the weather becomes unpredictable and we are deceived by its changes.
The more comes snow and so we know Cruel Boreas deceives us.
The snow keeps falling despite the expectation that spring is on its way, and we realize that the wind is tricking us with false promises.
And if at twelve o'clock I walk a shadow's length behind you,
Even if I follow you closely, I will always be in your shadow and struggling to keep up.
The deeper I will have to dig the driven snow to find you.
I will need to work even harder to find you, especially if we are both struggling against the harsh winter weather.
Alas, alas, Cruel Boreas, you chill our very marrow;
The wind's cold grip reaches deep inside us and causes a great deal of pain and suffering.
We will strew our pillow with the rue and with the yarrow.
We will try to find comfort in whatever we can, even if it means lying on a pillow filled with bitter herbs and wildflowers.
When Boreas again begins to blow a little harder,
The wind will only get worse and we must prepare ourselves for a greater struggle.
We'll go to our unwed bed therein to make our ardour.
We will find warmth and love in the times when we are alone together, in our bed that we share without the need for marriage.
When Boreas at last relents the sun again is shining,
When winter finally comes to an end, the sun returns and we can begin to recover from the hardships we have faced.
Let the rhythm guide the sense and the sense misguide the rhyming.
We should focus on the feelings of the music rather than its structure, as sometimes the words can be misleading or deceptive.
Now we're the Hyperboreans -- we dwell beyond the tundra;
We are a people who live in a faraway place beyond the reach of most others, in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
That's the name we glory in and the name we labour under.
We take pride in our identity as Hyperboreans, even though we must work hard to survive in our environment.
If you would glory in a thing, it may as well be labour.
If you are going to take pride in something, it should be in your ability to work hard and overcome challenges.
That's ever been the reasoning and governs our behaviour,
Our culture has always valued hard work and perseverance, and this shapes the way we live our lives and interact with others.
The only way to overbrim with love for every neighbour.
The only way to truly care about others is to work hard and overcome one's own challenges, so that we may have the strength to help and support others.
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.